You don’t have to remember Don Ho’s 1960s classic “Tiny Bubbles” to know that those tiny bubbles in the wine can make you “feel fine.” As it turns out, old Don was onto something. That stream of little bubbles rising from your glass of Champagne or sparkling wine is more than just carbon dioxide. Bubbles carry flavors and aromas — little sensory explosions — so the more the better. (They also hasten the uptake of alcohol into the bloodstream, so watch the “feeling fine.”)

We’re on the verge of New Year’s Eve, and it’s time to make a decision about bubblies. Traditionally, Champagne has been the star of the show, but it is not the only star in the sky. We tasted four different sparkling wines, none of them Champagne, and none of them French.

Muscanti Semi Seco (medium dry) is a cava, or sparkling wine, from Spain. The Semi Seco means that it contains just enough residual sugar to give it a hint of sweetness. The price and the bottle cap closure suggest an unpretentious wine — and it is — but it is also delightfully smooth and well balanced, with a surprisingly long finish.

Schlumberger Brut from Austria is definitely not in everyone’s ice bucket. The oldest winery in Austria, Schlumberger prides itself on using an enhanced version of the traditional Champagne method. Using a little-known European grape variety, they have produced an award-winning brut that is delicate and fresh, and elegant as Austrian crystal.

Bug Juice? With a name like that, it better be good. And it is. This slightly effervescent moscato is an irresistible fruit bomb. Aromas and flavors of honeysuckle, peach, apricot and pineapple wash across the senses. Moscatos are a hot ticket right now and this one, from Italy’s Moscato d’Asti zone, is one of the best.

Caraccioli Brut Rosé, grown in California’s premier Santa Lucia Highlands, is a 60/40 blend of chardonnay and pinot noir, with just a touch of premium pinot noir added for color and flavor. The result is mouth-watering acidity and explosions of citrus flavorsthat suggest lemon tart or lemon meringue. This sparkler could go toe-to-toe with its fancy French cousins. The bubbles rule.